A new chapter is beginning for businesses in East Kamloops as the East Kamloops Business Improvement Association (EKBIA) officially launches, aiming to unify and support the commercial communities of Valleyview, Dallas, and Campbell Creek. But rather than rushing into a preset agenda, the EKBIA is starting with a simple but powerful question for its members: What do you need most?

At the heart of the BIA’s first few months is a business survey, open until August 6, designed to gather insights directly from the roughly 260 businesses across the area. The goal? To understand their biggest challenges, uncover their priorities, and establish a baseline for what success should look like in East Kamloops. “Success right now looks like a high level of engagement,” says Clare Warner, the association’s newly appointed Executive Director. “We want to know: What’s working? What’s not? How do you see this district evolving in the next 10 or 20 years? That feedback is going to shape everything we do.”

Clare Warner, Executive Director EKBIA

East Kamloops is now the city’s third BIA, joining Downtown Kamloops and the North Shore. According to Warner, the new BIA fills a much-needed gap. “Many businesses in East Kamloops have felt left out of the conversation. The launch of this BIA changes that,” she says. “Now we have a vehicle for representation, funding, and collaborative planning.”

Survey Designed to Guide Strategy from the Ground Up

The survey asks local business owners to reflect on key topics including: current business conditions and challenges, awareness of what a BIA is and how it operates, the state of public safety, transportation, and street beautification and long-term vision for the neighborhood and local economy.

Input will directly inform where the EKBIA focuses its time and budget. “We serve a very diverse area,” Warner explains. “From industrial businesses to highway motels to small retailers—it’s critical that we listen carefully. We want to understand what they think our priorities should be: Is it safety? Is it public space upgrades? Is it economic development? This isn’t about guessing. It’s about data, collaboration, and action.”

Looking Ahead: From Listening to Action

While many new organizations rush to roll out programs, the EKBIA is intentionally focused on listening first—and measuring its success by how well it captures and responds to local needs. “We’re not just here to decorate sidewalks or organize events,” Warner says. “We’re here to represent real business needs with data, advocacy, and action. This is about building something sustainable, and that starts with listening.”

Events and Engagement to Build Community

In addition to the survey, the EKBIA is launching with several initiatives aimed at building community momentum:

• Social Media Contest – Starting July 1, residents can win prizes and gift cards worth $2,500 from local businesses by following @EastKamloopsBIA on Facebook and Instagram.

• Launch Event – July 23 – A networking celebration will be held at McCracken Station Pub from 4–6 p.m. Local business owners are encouraged to attend, meet one another, and connect with the EKBIA team.

“That event is about starting a network,” Warner says. “We want businesses to meet, share their stories, and begin building the connections that can strengthen the local economy.”

You can visit the EKBIA website for more.